Event Program
The event will bring together a curated group of thought leaders and practitioners from government agencies, academia, food production companies, AI and startup communities, and technology solution providers, along with international experts.
Delta Hotels Guelph
Guelph, Ontario
150+ Attendees
Industry leaders & researchers
Expert Speakers
From government, academia & industry
Program at a Glance
Get a quick overview of both days before diving into the detailed schedule
October 1, 2025
October 2, 2025
October 1, 2025
Opening Day - Keynotes & Main Panel
Registration & Breakfast
Welcome and check-in
Opening Remarks
Speakers:
- Jessica Bows, Assistant Vice-President, Research, University of Guelph
- Dr. Shayan Sharif, Interim Vice President Research and Innovation, University of Guelph
- John Kelly, Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness
- Rozita Dara
Location: Royal City Ballroom
Keynote Talk 1: Smarter Data, Safer Food: AI's Strategic Role in Food Safety
Location: Royal City Ballroom
Keynote Talk 2: Versatility of AI Being Developed and Used at WFSR for Food Safety Management
Location: Royal City Ballroom
Coffee Break
Main Panel: From Lab to Table: Multidisciplinary Approaches to AI in Food Safety
Panelists:
- Dr. Ashwani Tiwari; Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Dr. Steven Rebellato; Chief Innovation Officer & Vice-President, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
- Dr. Biniam Kebede; Assistant Professor, University of Guelph
Location: Royal City Ballroom
Lunch Break
Experts' Presentations Session 1
Flanders Room
- 1:00-1:30 PM
Kim Simpson; Sr. Director, Quality – Technology Transformation, McCormick Canada - 1:30-2:00 PM
Jennifer Jannuska; Director, Data & Intellectual Property, Protein Industries Canada
John McCrae Room
- 1:00-1:30 PM
Benoit Brouillette; President, LABPLAS - 1:30-2:00 PM
Alexander Ruppel; Professional Development Manager, CSB-Systems
Special Announcements
Coffee Break
Keynote Talk 3: Culture Counts: How AI Helps Us See, Hear, and Improve Food Safety
Location: Royal City Ballroom
Network session and Student Poster session
Connect with peers and explore student research
October 2, 2025
Industry Panel & Roundtables
Registration & Breakfast
Day 2 check-in
Morning Roundtable Sessions
AI in Food Identity
Location: Flanders Room
AI in Food Quality/Contamination
Location: John McCrae Room
Coffee Break
Industry Panel: Operationalizing AI in Food Safety: Sharing Lessons Learned
Panelists:
- Dr. Manickavasagan Annamalai, CEO, Bioimaging Research Solutions
- John Cassidy, Managing Director of Canada, SVG Ventures
- To Be Confirmed
- To Be Confirmed
Location: Ken Dandby Room
Lunch Break
Afternoon Roundtable Sessions
AI in Food Waste
Location: Flanders Room
AI in Food Supply Chain Resilience
Location: John McCrae Room
Closing Remarks
Summary and next steps
Speaker Biographies
Learn about our distinguished keynote speakers and expert presenters
Dr. Ana Lozano
Technical Services and Specialist Manager, Neogen Canada
Ana Lozano is Technical Services and Specialist Manager for Neogen's Food Safety Division in Canada. With more than 20 years of experience in food safety across the dairy and condiments sectors, Ana has held leadership roles in quality control, assurance, and laboratory management. She holds an MSc in Food Safety and Quality Assurance from the University of Guelph and a BSc in Microbiology from the University of Los Andes. Ana combines deep technical expertise with a collaborative, customer-focused approach, regularly sharing her knowledge as a guest speaker at industry events.
Dr. Gijs Kleter
Senior Scientist, Wageningen Food Safety Research
Gijs Kleter, PhD, is a senior scientist at Wageningen Food Safety Research in the Netherlands, where he has worked since 1999. His research focuses on emerging food risks, genetically modified foods and feeds, novel protein sources, and pesticide safety. He is vice chair of the OECD Working Party for the Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds, and previously served on the European Food Safety Authority's GMO Panel and the IUPAC Crop Protection Chemistry Committee. Gijs has also contributed to international biosafety education through the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
Dr. Lone Jepersen
Principal, Cultivate SA
Dr. Lone Jepersen is Principal at Cultivate SA, where she leads initiatives in food safety culture and AI integration. Her expertise focuses on how artificial intelligence can enhance food safety protocols through improved visibility, monitoring, and cultural transformation in the food industry.
Dr. Ashwani Tiwari
Section Head, Advanced Data Analytics & Risk Modelling, CFIA
Dr. Ashwani Tiwari leads the Advanced Data Analytics & Risk Modelling Section in the Science Branch of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. A veterinarian and epidemiologist by training, he has more than 15 years of experience developing quantitative risk assessment and machine learning models to support food safety decision-making in Canada. Dr. Tiwari has collaborated extensively with national and international partners, including the U.S. FDA and USDA, Health Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Dr. Steven Rebellato
Vice-President & Chief Innovation Officer, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Dr. Steven Rebellato is Vice-President and Chief Innovation Officer at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, where he leads digital modernization, public policy, and organizational transformation initiatives. He holds a PhD in Public Health from the University of Waterloo and is an Assistant Professor at McMaster University. Steven is also a Fellow in the AMS-Fitzgerald Fellowship in Artificial Intelligence and Human-Centred Leadership at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Biniam Kebede
Assistant Professor, University of Guelph
Dr. Biniam Kebede leads the Food Bioprocessing and Data Science Research Group at the University of Guelph. His interdisciplinary research focuses on sustainable food processing, predictive analytics, and the development of health-promoting and functional ingredients from plant-based sources and agri-food byproducts. His team integrates multi-omics, imaging, and machine learning tools to understand how bioprocessing alters food composition and function.
Prof. Manickavasagan Annamalai
Professor, Sultan Qaboos University & CEO, Bioimaging Research Solutions
Prof. Manickavasagan Annamalai, P.Eng., FCSBE, is a professor at Sultan Qaboos University with expertise in food processing, imaging, and sensor-based quality systems. He received his PhD in Biosystems Engineering from the University of Manitoba and worked in the food industry for eight years before joining academia. Beyond academia, he is the Founder and CEO of Bioimaging Research Solution Inc., which develops advanced imaging technologies for food and agricultural applications.
John Cassidy
Managing Director, Canada, SVG Ventures | THRIVE
John Cassidy is Managing Director of Canada at SVG Ventures | THRIVE, where he leads investment and innovation programs for agri-food technologies. He has overseen investments in more than 20 Canadian agri-food startups and drives strategic partnerships across the ecosystem. Previously, John served as CEO of a European fintech SME, guiding it to rapid growth and international recognition. He holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Business in Finance from the University of Limerick.
Jennifer Jannuska
Director of Data & Intellectual Property, Protein Industries Canada
Jennifer Jannuska is Director of Data & Intellectual Property at Protein Industries Canada, where she supports the agri-food sector in navigating emerging intellectual property challenges linked to AI and big data. A lawyer and patent agent qualified in Ontario, Jennifer previously spent over 20 years in private practice advising clients on IP strategy, commercialization, and enforcement across diverse sectors.
Kim Simpson
Senior Director of Quality – Technology and Transformation, McCormick Canada
Kim Simpson is Senior Director of Quality – Technology and Transformation for the Global Quality & Food Safety Center of Excellence, where she leads the development and deployment of innovative technologies, analytics, and automation systems to enhance food safety practices worldwide. With more than 25 years of experience in the food industry, she has held leadership roles spanning quality assurance, IT consulting, and global process ownership.
Benoit Brouillette
President, Labplas
Benoit Brouillette is President of Labplas, a Quebec-based manufacturer of sterile sampling solutions for food safety and laboratory testing. Since joining the company in 2013, he has held leadership roles including CTO, General Manager, and VP of Innovation, and has led its digital transformation. Under his guidance, Labplas developed "Twirl'AI," an internal network of AI agents designed to accelerate processes such as recall management, audits, and data analysis.
Alexander Ruppel
System Architect, CSB-System Canada
Alexander (Alex) Ruppel is a system architect at CSB-System Canada, a global technology provider for the food industry. With more than 12 years of experience in business and technology consulting across Europe and North America, Alex specializes in designing IT processes that support food manufacturing and quality management. His current work focuses on AI-assisted food grading, helping industry partners deploy imaging technologies to deliver transparent and reliable quality assessments.
Rozita Dara
Associate Professor and Director of Artificial Intelligence for Food, University of Guelph
Rozita Dara is an expert in artificial intelligence and data governance, with a focus on agri-food systems. She has worked as a Senior Scientist at BlackBerry and Privacy Officer at Ontario's Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. At the University of Guelph, she has spearheaded several initiatives related to digital agri-food, including enhancing agriculture data trust and protection frameworks and enhancing automation in agri-food practices.